Universally Spoken

Tonight is the Oscars where we acknowledge the creatives and the performers. Many root for their favorite picture to win. Others talk about who wore what and who said what. As for myself, I’m still thinking about that McDonald’s commercial that just aired.

The commercial starts off with some children signing that they are hungry. Then it shows another kid arriving on his bike with a bag of McDonald’s. Then it ends with the tagline, “Universally spoken.”

I’m currently taking a sign language class and I am aware of how marketing, media, and technology often ignore the fact that about 25 million people are deaf or hard of hearing and about 10% practice sign language.

I think it’s a way better commercial than the ones they’ve been airing for their caramel mocha HOWEVER… people can interpret this commercial in two ways:

1. It’s a way of inserting the power of their brand by basically saying that their brand image not only extends itself internationally and culturally but also to the deaf culture and hearing impaired communities.

or

2. It’s an egotistical way of inserting the power of their brand by basically saying that their brand image not only extends itself internationally and culturally but also to the deaf culture and hearing impaired communities. It’s a little cynical but that’s just what came to mind.